Scuderia Torro Rosso - Questionable management style??
Discussion
I've been reading quite a lot about this lately on www.pitpass.com, in particular the behaviour and tactics of Gergard Berger and Franz Tost.
Is this any way to run a Formula One team?
In light of Gerhard Berger’s treatment of his drivers and lack of support for his engineers, is he the worst manager in Formula 1.
Is this any way to run a Formula One team?
In light of Gerhard Berger’s treatment of his drivers and lack of support for his engineers, is he the worst manager in Formula 1.
- To inspire his drivers Scott Speed contract wasn’t confirmed until the last possible minute, citing lack of commitment.
- He has continually talked about replacing his drivers and bringing in Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel. Every other manager has the tact and discretion not to talk about replacing drivers in the public arena.
- At the British Grand Prix Gerhard stayed at the luxury hotel Whittlebury Hall, while putting all his team and drivers in cheap hotel in Nottingham.
- He has consistently failed to support his drivers or the engineers and has driven the entire team to despair, through his arrogance and bullying tactics.
- After putting no cash up to buy the team, and having bought no new money into the team since he joined, he is now trying to sell the team for a fortune.
- Gerhard and Franz Tost, instead of taking responsibility for the failings of the team, have only been able to blame the drivers, with Franz Tost going so far as to assault Scott Speed at the European Grand Prix in front of witnesses and then trying to deny the incident ever occurred.
Gerhard Berger has shown that he is incapable of running a racing team. Instead of blaming the drivers, maybe he should look to his own performance as a manager. The entire Torro Rosso team look dispirited, and Red Bull have so little faith in the man that they have put the team on the market. It's time for change at the top.
- To inspire his drivers Scott Speed contract wasn’t confirmed until the last possible minute, citing lack of commitment.
- He has continually talked about replacing his drivers and bringing in Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel. Every other manager has the tact and discretion not to talk about replacing drivers in the public arena.
- At the British Grand Prix Gerhard stayed at the luxury hotel Whittlebury Hall, while putting all his team and drivers in cheap hotel in Nottingham.
- He has consistently failed to support his drivers or the engineers and has driven the entire team to despair, through his arrogance and bullying tactics.
- After putting no cash up to buy the team, and having bought no new money into the team since he joined, he is now trying to sell the team for a fortune.
- Gerhard and Franz Tost, instead of taking responsibility for the failings of the team, have only been able to blame the drivers, with Franz Tost going so far as to assault Scott Speed at the European Grand Prix in front of witnesses and then trying to deny the incident ever occurred.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not the biggest Gerhard fan. But unless we actually know what's going on we can't really question his management style from what they say on pitpass.com...
Edited by Muzzer on Wednesday 25th July 14:07
He did a pretty good job at BMW, sure not quite the same role but his management skills weren't under question there.
Bear in mind that Flavio Briatore and Frank Williams are known for not exactly giving their drivers TLC and this style has worked for them.
With regard to the hotel point, do we have the full story behind this? For all we know he may have stayed there at his own expense, he is a retired driver, after all. I wouldn't be surprised if several other team bosses have done similar - they don't exactly lead impoverised lifestyles, do they?
On the other hand there's a possibility TR will be running Sebastien Bordais next year. If so I'd say that would be a pretty smart move.
Bear in mind that Flavio Briatore and Frank Williams are known for not exactly giving their drivers TLC and this style has worked for them.
With regard to the hotel point, do we have the full story behind this? For all we know he may have stayed there at his own expense, he is a retired driver, after all. I wouldn't be surprised if several other team bosses have done similar - they don't exactly lead impoverised lifestyles, do they?
On the other hand there's a possibility TR will be running Sebastien Bordais next year. If so I'd say that would be a pretty smart move.
MartinB101 said:
Hearsay? It's been well reported on several websites including Autosport.com itv.com/f1 and several others.
Yes, but I'm sure you don't believe everything you read. I know I don'tAs I've seen it, there's one story from Scott-I'm-about-to-get-fired-Speed and one from the team..
Franz Tost said:
I asked Speed why he retired. He just smiled back and asked why his pit stop took so long," Tost told the Blick newspaper.
"He then turned away, which was when I put my hand on his shoulder and said 'this is not something to discuss here.'
"It was not a pit-war."
Who to believe? I'm not sure - it's a toss up between the mouthy yank and the dodgy team owner. I'm not about to judge either though...because it's hearsay."He then turned away, which was when I put my hand on his shoulder and said 'this is not something to discuss here.'
"It was not a pit-war."
Why would Sebastian Bourdais join a non factory backed f1 team? Yes there may well be rumour, but I doubt Torro Rosso will pay his seven figure salary plus expenses....but Toyota, Renault, Prodrive etc may! Rumour is good but not always right.
As for selling the team, the word is certainly out there that for the right money Red Bull will share their stake, but I believe Gerhard Berger wants to sell his first. He does not have bottomless pockets and has done a complicated deal to help part finance the team.
As usual teams at the back are often in trouble, but the management of this group should look closely at Super Aguri about how to manage money and drivers.
As for selling the team, the word is certainly out there that for the right money Red Bull will share their stake, but I believe Gerhard Berger wants to sell his first. He does not have bottomless pockets and has done a complicated deal to help part finance the team.
As usual teams at the back are often in trouble, but the management of this group should look closely at Super Aguri about how to manage money and drivers.
Gerhard Berger (or his family) were very rich before he became an F1 driver through the family trucking company. Gerhard reportedly did a deal to sell the trucking company to Red Bull in exchange for Red Bull giving him part of Toro Rosso therefore a lot of his wealth is now tied up in the team, so hardly surprising that if the right offer came up he would sell.
belleair302 said:
Why would Sebastian Bourdais join a non factory backed f1 team? Yes there may well be rumour, but I doubt Torro Rosso will pay his seven figure salary plus expenses....but Toyota, Renault, Prodrive etc may! Rumour is good but not always right.
Because Red Bull are prepared to take a risk, in the absence of an American driver he has some presence in the US and because Sebastien has had no luck in the past with other teams. If he goes well in a Torro Rosso there's no doubt he'll be transferred to Red Bull and then will either have a chance in a Newey designed Renault car with a potentially well-structured team or can then jump to McLaren or Ferrari.Its very difficult to jump from an Indy car into a hi tech F1 moving computer, and to learn the circuits, without a simulator. I just do not see him coming into F1 unless backed by Honda, Toyota, etc. Just a hunch that's all.No driver wants to go from the front of the grid to the back, unless your name is Montoya!
n3il123 said:
Gerhard Berger (or his family) were very rich before he became an F1 driver through the family trucking company. Gerhard reportedly did a deal to sell the trucking company to Red Bull in exchange for Red Bull giving him part of Toro Rosso therefore a lot of his wealth is now tied up in the team, so hardly surprising that if the right offer came up he would sell.
When the Berger/Mateschitz tie-up story broke, I checked around and from what I could see, what they actually said was that they had exchanged shareholdings to give Berger 50% (IIRC) of STR and Mateschitz 50% of the trucking business...I am not sure that any money actually changed hands. A small point, but I think relevant as I don't think Berger has enough personal wealth to bankroll the team without sponsorship from Red Bull.I have a strong feeling that Bourdais' 2008 pay-check will be signed by Mateschitz and that he will step up to RBR in 2009 to replace one of the current drivers there.
I'm actually not really sure why STR exist now...and I have a feeling Mateschitz may have the same thoughts. Initially I think he believed he could use it to school those drivers on the young driver development programme, but he seems to have lost interest in that and reverted to sponsoring individual drivers in different formulae.
When you look at the strength of the teams in the lower order of F1, it doesn't look good....and I wonder whether DR may be holding back to pick up the pieces? Williams run a tight ship with zero debt. STR appear up for sale. Spyker may implode, Super Aguri (allegedly) default on payments to Honda (courtesy of SS United). Toyota and Renault may be questioning their involvement and Honda could even revert to supplier status.
belleair302 said:
Its very difficult to jump from an Indy car into a hi tech F1 moving computer, and to learn the circuits, without a simulator. I just do not see him coming into F1 unless backed by Honda, Toyota, etc. Just a hunch that's all.No driver wants to go from the front of the grid to the back, unless your name is Montoya!
Didn't he race on the majority of the circuits in his F3000 days and as a test driver for Renault?Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff